Human Rights Watch Traveling Festival - Rana's Wedding by Hany Abu-Asad

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Introduction Tips and Program Notes

When introducing films at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, we generally follow a three part theme: Human Rights Watch, the Film Festival, and the film screening as it relates to both the organization and the festival. We have elaborated on these points below and we hope that you will feel free to incorporate this information into your own introductions.

Human Rights Watch and the International Film Festival

Since its inception in 1978, Human Rights Watch has become a real force in the human rights movement, widely respected for its accurate research and creative advocacy. Our staff works in more than seventy countries worldwide, publishing dozens of reports every year and shining a bright light on those who abuse human rights. Through rigorous investigation, expert analysis, strategic advocacy, and persistent pressure, we have led the way in building support and protection for internationally recognized human rights.

Our capacity to engage the public has always been critical to our ability to influence policy and stop human rights abusers. Fourteen years ago, we created the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival in recognition of the power of film to educate and galvanize a broad cross-section of concerned supporters.

Human Rights Watch's International Film Festival has become a leading venue for distinguished fiction, documentary and animated films and videos with a distinctive human rights theme. Through the eyes of committed and courageous filmmakers, we showcase the heroic stories of activists and survivors from all over the world. The works we feature help to put a human face on threats to individual freedom and dignity, and celebrate the power of the human spirit and intellect to prevail. We seek to empower everyone with the knowledge that personal commitment can make a very real difference.

Rana's Wedding

It is rare to find a drama of such quality and sophistication that takes place in this region. At many moments in the film, one can even forget where the story is set. It is the common question of love that reminds us how similar we all are, rather than different. Nonetheless, Rana's life is different and we are subtly shown that through the various scenes in Jerusalem and Ramallah. As we follow Rana through the streets of Jerusalem and one eight hour day, we see that sometimes the best way to understand a situation is to see it through the eyes of one individual and her personal struggle.